A17698:1350
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And likewise when we have done our endeavour to serve him, [we must acknowledge] that he is not any whit beholden unto us for it, but (which more is) that the good affection which we have, is given us of him, and yet that all this is nothing, because there is some faultiness in it. Therefore it must needs be, that Gods receiving of us into favour, is not for that he oweth us any thing, but for that he loveth us. Now seeing that God will have his mercy known §30in these corruptible things: what will he have done in the everlasting salvation of our souls?
And lykewise when wee haue done our indeuour to serue him, [wee must acknowledge] that he is not any whit beholden vnto vs for it, but (which more is) that the good affection which we haue, is giuen vs of him, and yet that all this is nothing, because there is some faultinesse in it. Therefore it must needs be, that Gods receiuing of vs into fauor, is not for that he oweth vs any thing, but for that he loueth vs. Now seeing that God wil haue his mercy knowē §30in these corruptible thinges: what will hee haue done in the euerlasting saluation of our soules?
But here might a question be moved, that seeing God respecteth not our merits when he doth us good: why useth he this manner of speech which we read here in Moses? There are two reasons. The one is, that he intendeth to make us feel his grace the better, by driving us to grant that none of all the things which he behighteth us could take effect, if our works should be respected,§40 & therefore that he must be fain to bury all our sins, & to accept us of his own free goodness. This would be somewhat with the darkest, if it should not be laid forth more at length. His saying (in effect,) is that whereas God telleth us, that if we serve him, he will bless us and prosper us: his intent is that every of us should examine himself, and consider at what point we be with him. And when we once know that in stead of serving him, we do provoke him against us &